‘Devastating’ increase in the number of homeless children

A growing number of children were among the 43,000 Scots classed as homeless last year as authorities faced the first rise in applications for assistance with somewhere to stay in almost a decade, new research shows.

The increase means one Scot is now losing their home the equivalent of every 18 minutes. The situation has been branded “devastating” by opposition parties after Scotland passed flagship laws a decade ago aimed at eradicating the problem.

A new study for Shelter Scotland today found the number of people registered as homeless in Britain rose for the third year running to nearly 320,000. In Scotland, the number of households that applied as “homeless” rose 1 per cent last year (2017/18), to 34,972. This was the first rise since 2008/09.

Although the number of people in households classed as homeless fell from 44,794 to 43,074, the number of children increased by 93.

Alison Watson, deputy director of Shelter Scotland, said: “It’s unforgivable that almost 320,000 people in Britain have been swept up by the housing crisis and now have no place to call home. Around 43,000 people were made homeless in Scotland last year.

“Due to a perfect storm of spiralling rents, very harsh welfare cuts and a major lack of social housing, record numbers of people are sleeping out on the streets, stuck in poor quality accommodation or in a cramped hostel room.”

The number of children living in temporary accommodation in Scotland, which can include hotels and B&Bs, has also increased for the fourth year running to 6,615.

Shelter Scotland has now launched an urgent appeal calling on the public to support its frontline advisers who help the growing number of people trying to find or keep a home.

Last year, 21,290 people came to the charity in Scotland for help – more than ever before.